Francesca Zambello News

There was a seismic event and emotional roller coaster onstage Thursday night at the 92nd Street Y, in the Kaufmann Concert Hall theatre. Her name is DEBBIE ..... DEBORAH VOIT. It was the first performance in New York City of a piece called VOIGT LESSONS. The piece was co-created by Voight, Terrence McNally and Francesca Zambello, years ago, at Glimmerglass and the diva told us that it has been performed 'very few times, let alone in New York City.' The crowd proceeded to go crazy. The piece- so simple, yet brilliantly calibrated.

Poulenc's music is almost hard to believe; romantic without sweetness, contemporary without alienating, and among the extraordinary composers repertoire this epic opera stands out as a remarkable achievement, and this season Washington National Opera Artistic Director Francesca Zambello has designed a beautiful production to accompany it. That and some of the most impressive vocal power on display anywhere in the city makes the Kennedy Center's latest operatic offering an absolute joy to the senses.

92Y presents the New York City premiere of Voigt Lessons, starring internationally beloved opera starDeborah Voigt, tonight, February 26. In this one-woman show – co-created with Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and acclaimed opera and theater director Francesca Zambello – Voigt performs arias, pop songs, standards and spirituals of deep personal significance, along with anecdotes and backstage stories describing her astonishing rise to operatic heights, despite her private challenges. Voigt Lessons, an evening imbued with Voigt's trademark warmth, candor and sense of humor, premiered at Glimmerglass in 2011 to rave reviews. The New York Times hailed it as “chatty, witty, and sometimes painfully poignant,” andToronto's Globe and Mail called it “an absolute gem.”

DALLAS, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 – The Dallas Opera is preparing to whisk audiences away to the Latin Quarter of Paris for the blockbuster opera of the season: Giacomo Puccini's 1896 masterpiece, LA BOHÈME, based on Henri Murger's newspaper serial-turned-novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème.

92Y presents the New York City premiere of Voigt Lessons, starring internationally beloved opera starDeborah Voigt, on Thursday, February 26. In this one-woman show – co-created with Tony® Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and acclaimed opera and theater director Francesca Zambello – Voigt performs arias, pop songs, standards and spirituals of deep personal significance, along with anecdotes and backstage stories describing her astonishing rise to operatic heights, despite her private challenges. Voigt Lessons, an evening imbued with Voigt's trademark warmth, candor and sense of humor, premiered at Glimmerglass in 2011 to rave reviews. The New York Times hailed it as “chatty, witty, and sometimes painfully poignant,” andToronto's Globe and Mail called it “an absolute gem.”

Heartbeat Opera is a new company intent upon re-imagining opera in intimate spaces for a new generation. Employing a minimalism that allows the emotional integrity of the music to shine through, the company's work focuses on the body of the singer and the visceral power of the music.

Heartbeat Opera is a new company intent upon re-imagining opera in intimate spaces for a new generation. Employing a minimalism that allows the emotional integrity of the music to shine through, the company's work focuses on the body of the singer and the visceral power of the music. Co-Artistic Directors Louisa Proske andEthan Heard, who trained together in the Directing program at the Yale School of Drama, are committed to nurturing the actor in every singer they work with. The company creates productions of classics and new pieces that are daring and visceral—productions that manifest the emotional grandeur and theatrical power of opera with minimal means. Heartbeat's one-act festival presentation of György Kurtág's Kafka-Fragments, directed by Heard, and the New York premiere of Jacques Offenbach's Daphnis & Chloé, in a new English translation directed by Proske, marks this young company's debut. Heartbeat Opera's resident music ensemble Cantata Profana, described by The New York Times as “a stylish early music ensemble,” will provide musical accompaniment.

Houston, January 29, 2015-Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2015-16 season showcases the vibrant and diverse artistic mix that marks HGO as a leading 21st-century American opera company: Wagner's Siegfried, the third installment of La Fura dels Baus's imaginative Ring cycle featuring a new generation of Wagnerians; the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players; Dvo?ak's fairy tale rarity Rusalka; a holiday revival of family favorite The Little Prince from the award-winning composer Rachel Portman and librettist Nicholas Wright; a new production of The Marriage of Figaro and a new-to-Houston Eugene Onegin; a beloved core production, Tosca; and the Houston debut of Broadway sensation Rob Ashford's take on the classic musical Carousel. Through its community collaboration program HGOco, the company will present two additional world premieres: O Columbia, a chamber opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Royce Vavrek that examines the past, present, and future of the American spirit of exploration; and another chamber opera, by composer David Hanlon and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann, about the impact of hurricanes on the Texas Gulf coast.

Opera star Deborah Voigt just stopped by the Today show, where she dished about her new memoir CALL ME DEBBIE. Check out the full appearance below!

In a fun video for People, opera star Deborah Voigt confronts the little black dress that lost her the role of 'Ariadne' at London's Royal Opera House eleven years ago. She was fired after not fitting into the costume, but the experience only served to inform her new memoir CALL ME DEBBIE. Watch below!

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of the one-hour opera Penny by composer Douglas Pew and librettist Dara Weinberg, presented under the auspices of WNO's American Opera Initiative, this weekend, January 23-24, 2015 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) celebrates its seventh season of free opera simulcasts at Nationals Park with the M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield performance of Rossini's romantic comedy Cinderella on Saturday, May 16, 2015. Gates open at 5 p.m. for “pregame” activities for the entire family, and the opera will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard at 7 p.m. Free seating will be available on the outfield grass and in the stands. The event will take place rain or shine—in case of inclement weather, some covered seating is available.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of the one-hour opera Penny by composer Douglas Pew and librettist Dara Weinberg, presented under the auspices of WNO's American Opera Initiative, January 23-24, 2015 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Pew and Weinberg are alumni of the American Opera Initiative; their 20-minute work A Game of Hearts had its world premiere during the program's first season in November 2012. Penny is conducted by American Opera Initiative mentor Anne Manson and directed by Alan Paul, the Associate Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Tenor Russell Thomas will replace Brandon Jovanovich, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the New York Philharmonic performances of the Verdi Requiem, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The performances will also feature soprano Angela Meade (in her Philharmonic debut), mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the New York Choral Artists, directed by Joseph Flummerfelt, this weekend, January 15, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

DALLAS — The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the five phenomenal mainstage productions of the 2015-2016 Season, “Seeking the Human Element,” to be presented in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located in the Dallas Arts District.

Tenor Russell Thomas will replace Brandon Jovanovich, who has withdrawn due to illness, in the New York Philharmonic performances of the Verdi Requiem, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The performances will also feature soprano Angela Meade (in her Philharmonic debut), mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and the New York Choral Artists, directed by Joseph Flummerfelt, Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the five phenomenal mainstage productions of the 2015-2016 Season, “Seeking the Human Element,” to be presented in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Centerlocated in the Dallas Arts District.

The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the five phenomenal mainstage productions of the 2015-2016 Season, “Seeking the Human Element,” to be presented in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located in the Dallas Arts District.

92Y presents the New York City premiere of Voigt Lessons, starring internationally beloved opera starDeborah Voigt, on Thursday, February 26. In this one-woman show – co-created with Tony® Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and acclaimed opera and theater director Francesca Zambello – Voigt performs arias, pop songs, standards and spirituals of deep personal significance, along with anecdotes and backstage stories describing her astonishing rise to operatic heights, despite her private challenges. Voigt Lessons, an evening imbued with Voigt's trademark warmth, candor and sense of humor, premiered at Glimmerglass in 2011 to rave reviews. The New York Times hailed it as “chatty, witty, and sometimes painfully poignant,” andToronto's Globe and Mail called it “an absolute gem.”

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley and Music Director Nicola Luisotti today announced the Company's 2015-16 season repertory and roster of international and critically acclaimed guest artists, conductors and creative teams scheduled to appear at the War Memorial Opera House.